I found these Rosbro candy containers on the back shelf in the basement of an estate sale. They must have been hidden well, because no one had grabbed them earlier in the day. Always dig, people!
Pete the Clown
Witch with Jack O' Lantern
E. Rosen Company or Rosbro (Rosen Brothers?), also known as Tico Toys, was based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and created plastic candy containers, most with a holiday theme, in the 1950's. Not much can be found about the company, but I did identify the founder as Sam Rosen. From his entry on Ancestry.com, the first mention of the company (which is referred to as a "candy factory") is his ownership of it in 1942. His father Ephraim passed away in 1936, so the "E." may have been in his honor. He did have a brother Herman, so that may be the brother in "bro". Sam's daughter Phyllis married Bertram Brown whose obituary lists him as a "pioneer in the plastics field", so he may have also worked for Rosbro.
Today, there is a huge collector's market for these. Here are some examples I've gathered from the internet.
I have a few of those Jack O' Lantern buckets in my collection and never knew they went with a figure.
This was clearly a repurposed snowman.
As you can see, Rosbro gave witches many different means of conveyances.
wow, these are ALL so great. what an amazing collection -- now i understand why people want them. i love the scarecrow with the jack o' lantern head, the witch riding the rockets ('60s? '50s?), and the really angular jazzy cat playing the sax (not the one on wheels, the other one). now i'm going to have to keep an eye out for these.
ReplyDeleteThe scrarecrow is probably my favorite as well. I'm not sure how long Rosbro produced these. The rockets could well be '50's, '60's or both.
DeleteThese are awesome!! I would love to have the witch on bicycle or witch at all but they're expensive now. Congrats on having a collection.
ReplyDeleteWell, my collection is small. Those pictures are from the internet. But you are correct, they are expensive and despite not being terribly old, are definitely rising in value.
DeleteGreat finds!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dex!
DeleteSam Rosen had a long-established candy company when his daughter Phyllis married Bert Brown. Bert convinced Sam to provide the initial funding for his production of plastic novelties, initially not toys so much as holiday-themed figures (Santa on skis was one of the earliest and most popular) that would hold the lollipops that E. Rosen Co. was making. Initially marketed through Woolworth's, these proved very successful.. Rosbro, founded in 1946, was a compound of the last names Rosen and Brown.
DeleteThanks for the info, Russell. I didn't know the origin of the Rosbro name, and just assumed it was Rosen Brothers, but good to know about Bert Brown. There's very little information about the company out there and I'd love to know more if you have other information.
DeleteThe internet tells me that Bert Brown started Rosbro Plastics in 1946. I first saw his toys when my father (his older brother) shipped me an assortment when I was in Grade 4 (1949-50). I recall that first shipment as chiefly valentine-themed, so probably early 1950. After that I got shipments about three times a year. In Grades 5 & 6 I brought a number of the Christmas-themed toys to school where they were used as decorations.
DeleteThe first two you picture date from that 1950-53 period, as does the witch on the broomstick. The snowman was also early. I had several of the Halloween pumpkins, but none with ears. The others you show are all from a later period. I now regret I didn't hang on to any, but my mother and I moved several times as I grew up , which meant that childhood objects got left behind.
DeleteBert had four kids. Perhaps one of them still has a trove of these, but I don't know for sure. His sons told me they remember him saying to them, "Plastics is the future"--anticipating a famour scene in The Graduate by many years.
Hi Russell, thanks again for all the information. This is about 100 times more than I knew before you wrote. :) There is a large collector following for Rosbro. I always thought there should be a book. I'd buy it!
DeleteYou know what I thought the witch was riding and it wasn't a rocket.
ReplyDeleteThese are all amazing.
ReplyDeleteGreat Find! So difficult to source Vintage Halloween!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's all being snatched up and hoarded by collectors.
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